The difference between a lead actor and a guest actor was their status and role in the drama. The lead actor was the main actor who appeared at the beginning and ran through the entire plot. It could be a popular actor or a newcomer actor. They usually played the core characters of the story and played a vital role in the advancement and development of the plot. A special lead was a role that someone was specially invited to participate in the movie's main cast. It was usually a big-name actor or an actor with explosive points. They might not have a lot of scenes and were purely using their fame to attract the attention of the audience. The guest lead might also be a semi-guest star with fewer scenes. In general, the leading actor was the main character of the entire film, while the special actor was an actor specially invited to increase the popularity of the film or attract the audience.
The shadow actor in Qingyu Nian was Wang Yifu. Wang Yifu was the assistant director of the drama and also the actor of the shadow. The Shadow was Great Grandmaster Sigu Jian's younger brother, the son of the former Dongyi City Lord. He was saved by Chen Pingping and became Chen Pingping's chief guard. The Shadow had always worn a mask and had never shown his true face because he harbored hatred and hoped to take revenge on Sigu Jian, who had killed his loved ones. Shadow's true identity was revealed in the second season of the show.
The actor who played the role of the shadow of the actor who celebrated the year was Wang Yifu. Wang Yifu was the assistant director of the production team and one of the actors in the drama. He played the mysterious role of Lord Shadow in the play, showing the calm temperament of the shadow. Lord Shadow was the younger brother of the Great Grandmaster Sigu Jian and the son of the former Dongyi City Lord.